Potential clubs to restore AHL franchise in Peoria, but situation is fluid

The St. Louis Blues have contacted the Chicago Wolves in an effort to make a deal that would have them serve as NHL parent club. “They want to talk to us and get something done with us in Chicago,” Chicago Wolves general manager Wendell Young said. “But we will have some stipulations....

The St. Louis Blues have contacted the Chicago Wolves in an effort to make a deal that would have them serve as NHL parent club.

“They want to talk to us and get something done with us in Chicago,” Chicago Wolves general manager Wendell Young said. “But we will have some stipulations. We have eight NHL teams interested in operating as our parent club.

“And we don’t know yet what Vancouver’s intentions are with us. They are (presently) our parent club, and they have not yet notified us whether they intend to stay or not.”

The Blues have sold the Rivermen to the Vancouver Canucks, although neither NHL team has confirmed that move yet. Neither Blues owner Tom Stillman nor Blues chief operating officer Bruce Affleck have returned calls.

But NHL and AHL sources say Vancouver is indeed the buyer. The Canucks want to operate their AHL farm team in Abbottsford, British Columbia, essentially their backyard.

But the Calgary Flames are operating an AHL team there now, locked in a longterm lease.

The Canucks are waiting to see if Calgary will exit the market. If they don’t, then it is possible Vancouver could operate its AHL farm team in Peoria next season. Those players would be the prospects currently playing for the Chicago Wolves.

Vancouver will need to operate somewhere while it tries to out-wait Calgary for the Abbotsford market.

“That’s exactly what could happen,” a source said on Saturday. “Abbotsford is losing a lot of money. But the city there subsidizes, pays to cover the losses. You have to think the city there would love to have Vancouver in that building instead.”

AHL and NHL sources also say the Minnesota Wild, who have been operating their AHL farm club in Houston, have slowed in negotiations to move that team to Des Moines, Iowa.

That deal has been in the works since last summer. “The brakes are definitely on with that deal,” said a source familiar with the deal. “Minnesota has an eye on Peoria.”

Meaning, the Wild could become a possible AHL answer to replace the Rivermen in Peoria.

There were ECHL sources weighing in as well, noting it’s possible Peoria could end up back in the league it dominated for nine seasons.

It’s a fluid situation.

Dave Eminian covers the Rivermen for the Journal Star. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.